Psychedelic Yoga

NOTE: This workshop is hosted by the Brooklyn Psychedelic Society. Sign up here:

https://www.bps.community/event-details/cannabis-yoga-ceremony

This Cannabis Yoga Ceremony, led by Henry Kandel and Brandi, is many things: a plant-medicine journey, a yoga workshop, and a form of “social meditation.” Participants come together in a relaxed, communal container to play and deepen their practice together. We’d love for you to join us!

Flow:
This 2-hour ceremonial workshop will begin with a brief intention-setting circle where we consume low-dose cannabis edibles together.

We will then:

• Learn a subtle pranayama (breath practice) that incorporates visualization of "channels" in the body to balance our emotional energies.
• Practice gentle asanas (postures) in a unique way that supports our ability to move through the situations and challenges of our lives.

After that, the practices themselves will evolve from these traditional starting points to embody the creative, playful spirit of cannabis medicine.

Are there prerequisites?
No! All levels are welcome, and no prior yoga experience is necessary. Every practice will be simple and basic, yet deep and powerful. Advanced practitioners will be given options for more challenging variations.

If you’re relatively new to cannabis, you’ll discover its nature as an “Upaya,” a helpful tool on the yogic path. If you consume it regularly, you may feel a renewed appreciation for its profound synergy with our human experience, and may even transform your relationship with the plant.

Should I bring anything?
Please bring comfortable and flexible clothing. We have a limited number of yoga mats, so if you have one, please also bring a yoga mat.

We will provide a THC edible as a gift at the venue.

Preparing for Lucid Dreams and Psychedelic Journeys

• Methods from Dream Yoga, Dream Science, and Psychedelic Yoga

Lucid Dreaming and intentional work with psychedelics are wonderful ways of cultivating creative flow, wellbeing, and spiritual exploration.

Many folks are intrigued by the possibility of Lucid Dreaming!

When you become aware within the dream state -- "This is a dream!" -- the possibilities are endless. Dramatic, rapid progress can be made in terms of healing and spiritual growth.

There are ancient yogic practices, such as Tibetan Dream Yoga, that allow us to become more aware in our dreams and waking lives. These practices resonate with intentional psychedelic work. The techniques of Dream Yoga benefit the psychedelic journeyer on their trips!

This workshop will focus on:

-- How to use microdosing and techniques from Dream Yoga to become a lucid dreamer, and how to extract deep benefits from your lucid dreams!

-- How to apply the practices of lucid dreaming (whether or not you attain lucid dreams) to your psychedelic journeys!

No experience is necessary, only curiosity and openness!

A blissful afternoon in June!

Weather permitting (fingers crossed!), we'll meet in Long Meadow, Prospect Park, Brooklyn -- May 12, at 3:00pm -- to read Buddha's Sutra on the Full Awareness of Breathing, get high, and practice together!

We'll use Thich Nhat Hanh's translation. I will distribute copies and we'll take turns reading and practicing breathing!

There will also be joints provided to help cultivate bliss and deep immersion in the breath practice.

There is no better way to relax, to let go of mental and emotional burdens, and to renew your sense of embodiment and joy -- than to combine intentional cannabis and yogic breathwork!

In this workshop, you'll learn several types of pranayama (yogic breathing).

Different forms of pranayama cultivate different aspects of consciousness, so a toolkit of pranayama is a boon for the psychedelic explorer.

The yoga of breath has been my single most important ally on my psychedelic healing journeys.

I will address two questions, for each pranayama I teach:

-- How can this pranayama support various types of psychedelic work?
-- How can this pranayama be used, on its own without a substance, to cultivate psychedelic states?

I will give advice for practicing ahead of a session, and some important cautions.

Here's an outline of a previous workshop:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XO9V84zXI73nN97sRfoOl0w36kH-IfT1faxqVqKeUbw/edit

If you have had important experiences with breathwork related to psychedelic experience, please share your stories and insights! The workshop will end with a discussion.